Orthopedic clamp



Sept. 30, 1969 M. A. FLORIO 3,469,573

ORTHOPEDIC CLAMP Filed May 4, 1966 4 JNVENTOR.

Michael Angelo Florio BY I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,469,573ORTHOPEDIC CLAMP Michael A. Florio, 180 E. Delaware, Chicago, Ill. 60611Filed May 4, 1966, Ser. No. 547,484 Int. Cl. A61f 5/04 U.S. Cl. 12892 1Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A clamping device for use by orthopedicsurgeons in connection with the fixation of bone fractures and whichserves to not only perform the main function of securing the portions ofthe fractured bone together during bone growth, but which enables areduction in the area of pressurized conduct between the clamp and thebone.

My invention relates to orthopedic devices and more particularly tothose types of devices which are employed in fixation of certain typesof fractures.

One object of my invention is to provide a new orthopedic 'band whichcan be easily inserted and securely fastened into final place with thedesired tension.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed which will permit the surgeon to not only clamp the bandaround the bone to the desired tightness by means of a screw, but whichwill further enable him to double-lock the device into its finalposition without any danger of slippage or loosening during the latteroperation.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a device of thecharacter described which will enable the bone growth to develop withthe continuation of a relatively normal bone metabolism and in a morenormal pattern than possible with other devices.

Another important object is to provide an orthopedic clamp havingfeatures which will, in comparison to devices in use heretofore,minimize if not completely eliminate the amount of dead bone lyingdirectly under the band. Other objects and advantages of my inventionwill appear as the specification progresses and with reference to theaccompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred form of my invention.

For a better understanding of my invention it should be mentioned thatin devices used heretofore for the immobilization and stabilization ofbone fractures, fiat metal bands or one or more wrappings of wire havebeen used. It is common knowledge that these older devices frequentlyhad to be removed within several months of their installation or theywould produce ring-type sequestrum. This necessary removal requiresadditional surgery and if the removal is not affected in due time a newfracture may appear in the area of the sequestrum, incurring secondarycomplications. The intimate contact of either a solid metal band or wiredoes not permit nourishment to reach the underlying bone. To overcomethe objections of the former orthopedic encircling devices it willreadily appear from the description to follow that my invention, whilestabilizing the fracture, permits nourishment to flow to the bone lyingunderneath the 3,469,573 Patented Sept. 30, 1969 ice major portion ofthe device. In addition I have made provision for the growth anddevelopment of soft tissue, such as fibrotus tissue, blood vessels,etc., to grow in and through the device.

For a better understanding of my invention reference is made to FIGS. 1and 2 in which a band 1 is disposed circumferentially about a bonestructure indicated by broken lines at 7. One or more fractures, notshown, may extend longitudinally or even diagonally of the bone and thepurpose of the annular clamp is to enable the surgeon to set the bonefragments back into normal position and to cause the band to act as anannular clamp to retain this position enabling the fractures to heal andthe bone growth to continue to develop in a relatively normal manner.

The clamp is made of a straight band of metal which will permit thesurgeon to wrap the same around the bone in a circular manner shown. Theclamping action must be sufficiently firm to prevent movement betweenthe fractured parts and to this end a locking buckle comprising a clampmember 2 is provided through which the free end 6 of the band 1 isinserted. To secure the desired tension the free end 6 is madesufficiently long to enable grasping same while it is being pulledfirmly through the buckle, immediately following which a set screw 3 istightened firmly to prevent loosening of the clamp. To further securethe clamp into locked position, the free end 6 is bent to extendradially of the annular clamp to the position indicated by the brokenlines and following this any excess portion of the thus formed free endmay be sheared off and discarded. In order to reduce or prevent theformation of a ring-type sequestrum occasioned by plain curved metalbands or wires in use heretofore for this purpose I have provided theband 1 with a series of inwardly-extending corrugations or ribs 4. Thisimprovement enables a tremendous reduction in the area of pressurizedcontact between the clamp and the bone, permitting normal developmentand growth particularly in the areas between the projections 4. Myinvention embodies a further step in this direction by providing theband with a series of relatively large holes 5.

From the above it will be obvious that I have not only minimized thearea of contact between the bone and the band but have also madeprovision for the growth and development of soft tissue, blood vesselsand the like to grow under the major area of the band and also throughthe same by virtue of the presence of holes 5.

While the above described structure may be made of a desirable materialsuch as stainless steel, in the modification of my invention shown inFIGS. 4, 5 and 6 I have provided a series of inwardly-extending ribs 9made of a material different from that of a metal band 8. In thisarrangement large holes 11 for growth of tissue and the like areprovided between the ribs while the ribs themselves are permanentlyassembled in advance to the band. This is accomplished by providing eachrib 9 with a pair of studs 10 made integrally therewith and which studsare pressed into smaller holes disposed between the larger growth holes11. The ribs 9 may be made of plastic or any material sufficientlystrong yet suitable for permanent contact with bone, tissue, bodychemicals and the like.

I claim:

1. An orthopedic device comprising an annular metal band adapted to beapplied as a clamp around a fractured bone, said band being providedwith a plurality of inwardly-disposed bone-contacting members made of aplastic material of suflicient strength yet suitable for permanentcontact with bone, tissue and body chemicals, said members are eachelongated laterally across the width of said band to lie parallel to oneanother and sufficiently separated from one another circumferentially toprovide areas between adjacent members devoid of bone contact to permitthe continuation of relatively normal bone metabolism and a series ofopenings in those portions of said metal band which occur between saidbone-contacting members, said openings being of sufficient size topermit the growth of soft tissues therethrough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1928 Nicholson et a1. 128-926/1963 Spiro 24-16 11/1963 Von Solbrig 128-92 10/1917 Olmsted 29-2226/1925 Gillis 29-222 12/1927 Maki 29-224 FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1949France.

9/ 1953 Canada.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner 15 J. D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner

